Did you know that the famous TV show “I Love Lucy” starring Lucille Ball (Lucy) and her real-life husband Desi Arnaz (Ricky Ricardo) played a huge impact on American Television today?

At the time the show began, Lucille Ball insisted that her husband, Desi Arnaz star in the show as her on-screen husband. Producers were certain Arnaz’s Cuban heritage would guarantee the show’s failure. Part of the hesitancy came because this was just after the Zoot Suit Riots, when signs still hung in windows reading “No Dogs or Puerto Ricans Allowed.” I imagine the sentiment spread to all Latinos.

Thing is, if Desi were black, or part black, he certainly wouldn’t have been let on the air at that time. But the show’s success opened the door to other opportunities for “non-white” people of all kinds leave their mark.